This past Saturday, the Catalyst was moshed to the point of near collapse because the Dead Kennedys rocked the house harder than any band at the Catalyst. With a combination of the pent-up energy exerting from the crowd and the stacked line-up to make any punk fan envious, including Reagan Youth, Anti Social, and the Defenders, I walked out the door of the Catalyst witnessing the best concert I’ve seen so far.

The month of March brings us the sounds of the Islands, beginning with Willie K. at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga this Thursday, March 3rd at 7:30 pm. Willie Kahaiali’i sings just about every style of music; he can – and does – blister the blues, sing Hawaiian tunes, play ukulele and guitar sweetly and with a sinful sizzle. This Hawaiian man brings us his culture – and ours, as he plays with the spirit and virtuosity of the late Jimi Hendrix. Willie K. channels his rock and roll soul through to reggae, pop & soulful sounds. Whether it is traditional Hawaiian, operatic oratorio or a jazz standard, “Uncle” Willie K. has got it going on.

Willie K. performs at the historic Villa Montalvo in Saratoga Thursday, March 3rd. Bring a lil folding green for the parking fee and allow time to stroll through the Italianate garden and up the grand lawn before showtime at 7:30.

Listen in on Wiki Wiki Wednesday for some listener favorites by Willie K., and perhaps find your own special song;

https://www.kzsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/WillieK-5.jpg202200Lanihttps://www.kzsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/kzsc-300x123.pngLani2016-03-01 11:53:342016-03-01 11:53:34Hawaiian Music For Days

Now celebrating its eleventh year in production, Lightning in a Bottle Art and Music Festival, returns to San Antonio Recreation Area in Bradley, CA, Memorial Day Weekend (May 25-30, 2016) with music headliners including Chet Faker, Jamie XX, Cashmere Cat, Tokimonsta, Grimes, Four Tet and over 300 additional musicians and artists.

Anderson .Paak is one of the up and coming artists of the past few years. His work ethic is reflected in the projects he puts out as well as those who notice him. Releasing two albums, Venice and Malibu, as well as being extensively featured on the Dr. Dre project Compton speak to this ethic. There is also the group NxWorries which features .Paak in vocals and Stones Throw Knxwledge as producer. To top it off he has just recently been signed to Aftermath Entertainment. Anderson .Paak is defiantly embracing the opportunities around to him.

Like many, to get to this point in life was no easy feat. In listening to his songs on Malibu it becomes obvious where this work ethic comes from. In songs like “The Season/Carry Me” and “The Water” we learn how nothing was ever handed to this man. His status now is a result of the dedication he has to his art and his confidence in his creativity. Again all this is back up through his music.

One of the first projects released by the young musician was Cover Art. He decided to flip a handful of rock and blues song by injecting a nice dose of funk. According to an article in LA Weekly .Paak decided to flip soulful songs done by white artists that, “mean[t] a lot to,” to him (http://www.laweekly.com/music/randb-singer-anderson-paak-has-a-curious-new-project-4169754). Some of the songs covered are “Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes as well as “Such Great Heights” by the Postal Service. By flipping them through a different musical perspective he succeeds in demonstrating his creativity. In my opinion it would have been difficult to listen to this in 2013 and not think this guy was going to be a star.

But the best thing about this man is his range. While he obviously can reinvent songs and display his struggle through rhyme he can also write very meaningful songs. But he does not just talk about universal attitudes concerning love or greed or whatever but rather draws from personal experience (where else would someone come up with stuff like this) to better address these attitudes. In a song like “Drugs,” off the album Venice, we learn of the issue of allowing drugs, or any material thing really, to play a central role in your love life. Like, really, how many people are singing about this type of stuff right now? Or you have songs like “I Miss that Whip” off the same album. A new take on break up songs where rather than ruminating on a break up or the person he reminisces on what he actually missed about his Ex. It really begs the question of why people make relationships in the first place. Then you have songs were he performs assault on your ear. “Come Down” off of Malibu is the best example.

If that wasn’t enough there is the Stones Throw project with Knxwledge called NxWorries. The EP was released only a week or so ago. His attitude shines on the EP in a different way from his other work. Like on the track “Suede”.Paak exudes confidence on a level reminiscent of 90s Hip Hop yet with a freshness that makes you appreciate the present (Thank you both for that one). Of course the lyrics are only half of the duo. Knxwledge’s production on the EP makes it clear why he holds the reputation he does among producers.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, Anderson .Paak is the man. The only way to classify his music is good. Go out and listen.

Quasimoto, simply put, is one of the baddest MCs out there. Paying no attention to time Lord Quas has been around for years and years but only recently made his appearance in hip hop within the last 16 due to help from the prolific, loop digging producer Madlib the Bad Kid. As a stellar producer/ MC duo Quasimoto was able to put his stamp on hip hop with three albums released under Stones Throw Records : The Unseen (2000), The Further Adventures of Lord Quas (2005), and his most recent Yessir…Whatever (2014).

Quasimoto has held a complicated place history. Being around for as long as someone like Lord Quas you will undoubtedly make enemies. Royal governments, national assemblies, landlords… the list can go on. Keeping his mind zoned and cosmic none of these issues ever fazed the MC. With his bad character, adherence to supernatural practices, along with something rolled from DOOM he was able to stay free from stress. Reports of littered roaches at some of the most defining events in history give evidence to his presence. Who do you think threw a brick through the Bastille during the French Revolution? Orchestrated the dumping of massive amounts of tea into the Boston Harbor? These are just the minor examples of his role in history. His influence could fill volumes yet was and continues to be unnoticed.

Regardless of the general public’s inability to appreciate the particular attitude of this MC we can no doubt notice his presence throughout history. This lack of appreciation would lead Lord Quas to change his attitude toward the world. Always looking towards tomorrow and yesterday Lord Quas redirected his multiple abilities towards bullyshit and some rather perverted activities. In fact, it was Quasimoto who had the idea to make man fall in the garden. Most of which are much to explicit to be put into words. For the curious, his discography provides the tamest of the MCs exploits (so go cop it!).

Eventually moving to Anytime, LA Quas found his ability to express his experiences in a creative fashion with the help Madlib. Madlib was the only producer able to compliment the inflated voice of the MC yet their relationship could be rocky at points. It is reported from the Bad Kid himself that altercations occurred but the reasons for it are classified. Despite Lord Quas’s size Madlib was able to cause a nose injury but did not escape unscathed. Quasimoto never plays fair. A roach burn and several brick shaped bruises were reported to have covered Madlib after the fight. As a result we have not heard much from Quasimoto lately.